Collapsible ladder.



A Nationen. l

` UNITED STATES Patented October 6, 190B.v

GEORGE w. NAYLoaoF cA'rsKILL, NEW YORK.

coLLAPs'lBLE. LADDER. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,460, dated October 6, 13073. p A

Application iiled September 2,6, 1902. Serial No'. 124,960; (No model.) Y K 1b all whom 'it may concern."

Beit known that I, GEORGE W. NAYLOR, a citizen of theUnited States, residing in Cats-V kill, Greene county, and State of New York,

have inventeda novel Collapsible Laddenof.

which the following is a specification.

The subject of the present invention is a ladder which while more i particularly designed for embodiment as a step-ladder for :e service in connection with marine and sleeping-car berths is also applicable to ladders iu. tended for other purposes.

y An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the novel character and t5 relation of the means connecting the steps with the ladder sides are such that While they securely support said steps and sides when the ladder is adjusted for use and tend to draw said sides toward each other, and therezo by contribute to mutually brace saidsteps and sides as weight is imposed on any of the former, said connections readily admit of the collapsing of the ladder for causing it to assume a compact' condition without involving the disengagement of the connecting means with either the steps or sides.

There are other novel features connected with the invention which, in addition to those above alludedto, are described at length in 3o the subsequent detailed description. l

In the accompanying drawings, Vforming part of this specication, Figure l is a perspective View representinga portion of a marine state-room and illustrating my novel stepladder adjusted for service. Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing, on a larger scale, theladder in its collapsed condition and illustrating the same as being conveniently suspended from the side of the berth-frame. 4o Fig. 3 is a detail view showing, also on an enlarged scale, the position occupied by one of the steps and its suspendinglinks with reference to the ladder sides when inthe open position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail Viewillustrating certain features and adaptations of the upperengagiug hooks.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several tigures of the drawings where they occur.

The parallel side members A A of the ladder, or, as they will generally hereinafter bel "upper and lowersteps B B and between those .thin as possible commensurate with the strength required, andV with the idea of fur- 6o -ther lightening the weight of the construction the sides A A have extended openings a located intermediately between the upper and lower ends and the planes of the contiguous 6s of the latter and that of the middle step B.

While I have shown the ladder las having three steps, as is generally customary, it is vlinks have, further, inner horizontal portions y b', extending similar to the portions b and pivotally engaging recesses therefor in the under side of the adjacent part of the contiguous step B. Shallow plates b2, flush in the under faces of the steps, perform an of-l tice for the portions b similar to that which the plates o. perform for the portions b. The ends B2 of the steps are outwardly beveled 9o and are adapted, when the ladder is arranged for use, to bear in correspondingly-shaped notches b3 therefor in the inner faces of the sides A. i ,y

Pivotally mounted on the inner face of each side A, near the upper end thereof, is a metal suspending device C of peculiar configuration and function,-each device consisting of an extended shank c, straight on its inner face and merging into the hook c', the seat c2 of which is approximately at a right angle with respect to the inner face of its shank IOO and the inner face of its nose c3. These devices are preferably ribbed or iilleted for augmenting the strength thereof.

The operation and advantages of the novel ladder will be readily understood. With the parts arranged as disclosed in Fig. l a light and conveniently-handled step-ladder is presented, wherein the steps are firmly and positively retained in position to sustain any reasonable weight which may be imposed. This results not only from the fact of their beveled ends bearing in the notches b3, but also by reason of the opposite oblique disposition of thelinksB',the peculiar arraugementof which will operate to more firmly draw the sides A together, and thus more positively retain the bevel ends in the notches as the weight on the steps increases.

The adjustment ofthe ladder in position is accomplished by causing the hooks of the devices C to take over the upper edge of the side frame D ofthe upper berth. In instances where no guard-rail D is located on the inner side of said rail the shanks c are swung outward on their pivots, so that While the seating c2 bears intimately on the top edge ot' the frameD the inner side of the nose e3 will engage positively against the inner side of the frame. Palpably where the guard-rail Dl is present a corresponding engagement can be made by simply swinging the devices C inward to a slight extent. Under either circumstances the engagement will permit the ladder to depend in contact with the side frames of the upper and lower berths in a manner that will tend to avoid liability of the devices C becoming undesirably disengaged. Furthermore, such safe engagement will be maintained under any swaying of the ladder incurred through the motion of the vessel or car.

. When the ladder is not required for service, one of the devices C is disengaged from the frame D, and the Weight of the side A, coupled with the presence of the link connections, will permit the construction to collapse in a compact manner, with the steps folded against the suspended side A and the detached side against both, as indicated in Fig. 2. As thus arranged the ladder in its highlyreduced form can be stowed to one side without occupying any appreciable amount of room. In fact, in its collapsed form its bulk is so inconsiderable that it can be suspended from the upper frame D at the foot of the berth and not be in the way.

The peculiar supporting provision for the steps readily permits the collapsing operation notwithstanding the capacity for firmly retaining said steps when the ladder is in its adjusted position, as it stoutlyT resists all downward force exerted on the steps, but readily yields to power exerted in the opposite direction.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the novel ladder is not only highly serviceable, but is simple and' comparatively inexpensive in construction.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is A 1. The combination in a ladder comprising side members and steps, of step-supporting links having outer and inner horizontal portions movably but permanently engaged with the side members and steps respectively within the planes presented by the outer faces of the former and bottom surfaces of the latter, whereby the material `of the members and steps bears the strain incurred by said links, which in turn permit the steps to fold parallel with one of the side members and the other member to assume a corresponding position with respect thereto.

2. The combination in a ladder comprising side members having horizontal recesses at their outer sides, and steps with under horizontal recesses, of step-supporting links provided with outer horizontal portions bearing in the side recesses and inner horizontal portions within the step-recesses, plates a', b', secured to said members and steps and pivotally confining the link portions therein, said links permitting the steps to fold parallel with one of the side members and the other member to assume a corresponding position with respect thereto.

3. Aladdercomprisingside members,steps, and inwardly converged depending links movably but permanently connecting the steps and side members, said links tending to move said members toward each other, as downward pressure is exerted on any ot' the steps and also adapted to permit the steps to fold parallel with one of the side members and the other member to assume a corresponding position with respect thereto; and suspending means located at the upper portion of the ladder.

4. A laddercomprising side members, steps, and inwardly converged depending links movably but permanently connecting the steps and side members, said links tending to move said members toward each other, as downward pressure is exerted on any of the steps and also adapted to permit the steps to fold parallel with one of the side members and the other member to assume a corresponding position with respect thereto; and relatively independent suspending devices located on the ladder.

5. A ladder comprising side members with inner notches, steps, and means attaching the steps to the side members, said means tending to move said side members toward each other and thereby more intimately seat the step ends in the notches and also adapted to permit the steps to fold parallel with one of the side members and the other member to assume a corresponding position with respect thereto. 6. A ladder comprising side members with inner notches, steps, and links movably but IOO IIO

IZO

members toward each other and thereby more intimately seat the step ends in the notches and also adapted to permit the steps to fold parallel withene of the side members and the otherk member to assume a corresponding position with respect thereto.

7. A ladder comprising side members with inner angular notches as indicated, steps both ends of which are provided with upper outwardly-inclined bevels to conform'said ends With the notches, and Vmeans attaching the steps to the side members, said means tending to move the latter toward each other and thereby more intimately seat the bevel ends of the steps in the notches.

8. A ladder comprising side members with inner angular notches as described, steps both ends of which are provided with upper out- Wardly-inclined bevels to conform said ends with the notches, and means attaching the steps to the side members, said means tending to move the'latter toward'each other and thereby more intimately seat the bevel ends of the steps in the notches and also adapted to permit the steps to foid parallel with one of the side members and the other member to assume a corresponding position with respect thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y GEORGE W. NAYLOR.

Witnesses:

y DnIDRIoH LAKEMANN, WILLIAM SCHUBERT. 

